Effectiveness in philanthropy is not just about the money. It is also about how grantmakers use what they are learning to lead change and achieve better results.
“Organizational learning” can sound to many like a catchphrase, the latest flavor of the month in nonprofit (or for-profit) management. But in reality, the term refers to a mind-set and a mode of operating that can help grantmakers and their grantees be more effective and more successful.
Learning is about continual reflection — asking and answering key questions you need to know to make smarter decisions. It’s about engaging staff, board and grantees in reflective discussions of what works (and what doesn’t) to advance your organization’s mission and goals. It’s about creating opportunities for staff, board, grantees and other grantmakers to share practical insights and lessons gleaned from their work in ways that help everybody do a better job.
Too often in philanthropy, we think about learning as a means of proof — to determine whether X grantee did what it promised or whether Y intervention succeeded or failed. GEO’s goal is to change this perception so grantmakers think about learning as a tool for improvement.